Continuity of care for children with chronic conditions: mixed methods research

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the continuity of care for children with chronic conditions from the transition from hospital to home. Method: Parallel-convergent mixed-methods research, with a cross-sectional study and Grounded Theory. A characterization instrument and the Care Transitons Measure were applied to 201 legal guardians of children with chronic conditions, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 participants (among professionals and guardians). Data were combined by integration. Results: The efforts of the hospital team to promote continuity of care after discharge from the transition from hospital to home impact on the quality-of-care transition perceived by caregivers, with a mean of 89.5 (standard deviation = 12.5) points. However, the absence of formal mechanisms to guide the transition of care makes it difficult to achieve continuity of care in the health network. Conclusion: Continuity of care for children is hindered by barriers, against which hospital care professionals seek individual strategies to overcome them. It is essential to establish institutional actions and public policies aiming at the transition of care to promote continuity of care.